Is My Plan Ending?

Checking a Plan for a Parent or Relative

You can check whether a parent's or relative's Medicare Advantage or drug plan is offered where they live in 2027. This page says what to ask them for, how to read the answer together, and where to get free help.

What to Ask Them For

  • Their red, white and blue Medicare card. They'll need their Medicare Number to call Medicare or join a plan.
  • Their plan card. It shows the plan ID. The ID is a letter followed by numbers, like H1234-567.
  • The letter from their plan. A plan that continues sends the Annual Notice of Change so it arrives by September 30. It says what changes in 2027. A plan that is ending or leaving their county must send a letter saying so by October 2, 2026.
  • The ZIP code where they live. Plans can be different in each county.
  • A list of every prescription drug they take, the pharmacies they use, and their doctors and hospitals. These help when you compare plans.

Check the Plan Together

  1. Enter their ZIP code Use the plan check on our home page.
  2. Pick their plan Find it in the list, or type the plan ID from their card into the plan search.
  3. Read the answer with them It says whether their plan is offered where they live in 2027. The answer calls the person with Medicare "you".

What the Answer Means

Offered in 2027

The plan is offered again where they live. Benefits and costs can change each year. If they do nothing, they stay in this plan. Their Annual Notice of Change says what's different.

Being Replaced

The company is moving members to another of its plans. They don't need to do anything to stay covered. They'll be in the new plan on January 1, 2027. Their Annual Notice of Change names the new plan. They can still pick a different plan from October 15 to December 7, 2026.

For some plans, CMS's file also lists the plan as ending, so some members may not be moved. The Annual Notice of Change or the letter from the plan says which.

Not Offered in 2027

The plan ends on December 31, 2026. They need to pick a new plan, unless the plan's letter offers another option. They still have Medicare.

Dates to Know

  • October 15 – December 7, 2026: Open Enrollment. Anyone with Medicare can change plans for 2027. The new plan must get the request by December 7 to start January 1, 2027.
  • December 8, 2026 – February 28, 2027: a special window to pick a new plan if their plan is not offered in 2027. A plan picked by December 31 starts January 1. If they pick in January, it starts February 1. If they pick in February, it starts March 1. The special window doesn't apply to a plan that is being replaced.

See every date in order on What Happens Next.

If They Do Nothing

  • Medicare Advantage plan not offered: they will have Original Medicare on January 1, 2027. If the plan covered drugs, they will not have Medicare drug coverage, unless they get Extra Help (below).
  • Drug plan (Part D) not offered: they will not have Medicare drug coverage on January 1, 2027, unless they get Extra Help (below).
  • They may have to pay a late penalty if they go 63 days or more in a row without drug coverage. That means Medicare drug coverage, or other drug coverage that is at least as good. They won't be charged this penalty while they get Extra Help.

Extra Help With Drug Costs

Extra Help is a Medicare program that lowers drug costs. People get it automatically if they have:

  • full Medicaid,
  • help from their state paying their Part B premium (a Medicare Savings Program), or
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

To apply, go to ssa.gov or ask their State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free help.

If their plan is not offered in 2027 and they still get Extra Help in 2027, Medicare will put them in a drug plan unless they pick one themselves. Look for a letter from Medicare in late October or early November. This is for Medicare Advantage and drug plans. In a Cost plan, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to ask. This doesn't apply in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.

With Extra Help or Medicaid, they can switch to a stand-alone drug plan (Part D) once a month. To join a different Medicare Advantage plan, use the dates above.

Medigap When a Plan Ends

If their Medicare Advantage or Cost plan is not offered in 2027 and they go back to Original Medicare, they may have a right to buy a Medigap policy (Medicare Supplement Insurance). They can apply as soon as they get the letter saying the plan is ending. They can apply until 63 days after their plan's coverage ends. Keep the letter from the plan. This right doesn't apply if they join another Medicare Advantage plan.

In Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Medigap policies are set up differently from other states. Their state insurance department can say which policies are sold there.

Medigap rights on Medicare.gov

Free Help

Watch Out for Scam Calls

  • Medicare will never call uninvited and ask for personal information.
  • Plans aren't allowed to call unless the person is a member or gave permission. A plan that is ending tells its members by mail.
  • Give their Medicare Number only to people they trust who work with Medicare, like their doctors, their plan or their SHIP.
  • If a call seems wrong, hang up and call the number on their plan card or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Print or Send the Answer

Each answer has a Print This Answer button and a Send This to Family button. Send This to Family opens your phone's share menu, or copies a note and a link to the answer. The link includes the county and plan, and the ZIP code if you entered one. This site doesn't send anything itself.

More answers are on Common Questions. Check a plan now.

Confirm with their Annual Notice of Change or the letter from their plan.